Wireless balance for electric generators.



No. 842,358. PATBNTED JAN. 29, 1907.

' R. 0, & E. TAYLOR,

WIRELESS BALANCE FOR ELECTRIC GENERATORS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 8, 1904 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 n4: NORRIS PETERS co.,WASHINGTON, 1: c

PATENTED JAN. 29, 1 907.

R. G. & E. TAYLOR. WIRELESS BALANCE FOR ELECTRIC GENERATORS.

APPLIUATIQN FILED AUG. 8,1904.

2 SHEETS-8HEET 2.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFEIOE.

ROBERT c. TAYLOR AND EDWARD TAYLOR, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS ToWESTINGHOUSE AIR-BRAKE oOMPANY, OF PITTSBURG,

PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application filed August 8, 1904. Serial No. 219.865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT C. TAYLOR and EDWARD TAYLOR, residing in theborough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York,-haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wireless Balances forElectric Generators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to air-braking systerns and means of contro ofthe pumps thereof.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a simple and efficient meanswhereby upon the operation of one pump the remaining pumps 1n the samesystem are automatically started.

Another object is to accomplish the above without the use of additionalwires or other connectionsbetween the cars in which the system isinstalled.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the apparatus herein described and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the following claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown one of various possibleembodiments of our invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan showingthe several parts in operative relation. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevationof a balance embodying certain specific features of our invention. Fig.3 is a similar view showing the parts in another position. Fig. 4 is anend elevation Of the same. Fig. 5 is a cross-section takenon-the line asa: of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a plan of the dial of a governor embodyingcertain features of our invention.

Similarreference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Preliminary to a description of the embodiment ofour invention hereinset forth it may be noted that it has been customary upon certain typesoftrains to provide upon several of the cars separate pumps andstorage-reservoirs for the braking mechanism and means adapted upon thepressure in the system falling to a certain predetermined pointsimultaneously to start these pumps. As these last-mentioned means,commonly termed governors, determine the times at lines or wiresextending throughout the train which the corresponding pumps arestarted, an exact adjustment of the same is necessary in order to insurethe simultaneous action of the pumps. The maintenance of the governorsin a sufiiciently fine state of adjustment to prevent one pump startingbefore the others without the use of auxiliary mechanism has been foundto be impracticable, and consequently the pump whose governor is set foractuation at the highest point is started alone. When'this occurs, itwill be obvious that it will tend to raise the pressure in the system,and thus lessen the chances of the other pumps starting. Owing to thisfact, one or more of the pumps are often required to do the work of theentire system. Former attempts to remedy this serious defect haveinvolved. the use of additional pipeand necessitating the use of extrahose or wire connections between the several cars or have been otherwisecomplicated and inefficient. These comiections are obviouslyundesirable, as they tend to consume time in making up the train and arealso objectionable in other ways.

The defects above indicated and others are substantially eliminated inconstructions of the nature of that hereinafter described.

Referring now to Fig. 1, A and B represent diagrammatically themechanism upon two successive cars of a train, which may 0bviouslyconsist of any number of cars, if desired, without changing theoperation of our system. Running throughout these cars are thereservoir-line 1 and the train-line 2, provided with suitable hoseconnections, as in dicated at 3 and 4. These lines are of a form wellknown in the art and are connected by means of engineers valves, asindicated at 5 and 6, for use in the ordinary manner. Trainline 2 isconnected with air-braking mechanism, of which the auxiliary reservoir,triple valve, and brake-cylinder are diagrammatically indicated at 7, 8,and 9. As this brake mechanism forms no part of the present inventionand operates in a well-known manner, no more detailed description of thesame will be given.

Mounted adjacent reservoir-line 1 are the main reservoirs 10, eachsupplied by a pump These pumps are controlled in the wellknown manner bymeans of a governor C, the dial of which is shown in Fig. 6. The hand 12of this dial is electrically connected at one end by means of a smallflexible wire 13 with 'a binding-post 14, which itself may be con nectedwith any desired form of controlling mechanism. T his hand is providedat its opposite end with a contact member 15, which is adapted to movebetween contacts 16 and 17. As hand 12 is controlled by the airpressurein the reservoir-line in a well-known manner, it will be seen that whenthis pres sure falls to a certain predetermined point contact will bemade between members 15 and 16 and a circuit completed from bindingpost14 through wire 13, hand 12, and contact 15 to contact 16, from whichpoint it is carried, by means of a conductor 18, to a wellknown form ofcontrolling apparatus D, which is adapted to cause the actuation of theelectric pump 1.1. This controlling apparatus, which forms in itself nopart of the present invention, is so constructed that upon a currentbeing passed through the same in such manner as to start the motor ofpump 11 the same will continue in operation until a current is passedthrough a certain other cir ouit. This second-mentioned circuit is ledto the governor-dial at contact 17 which is adapted to coact withcontact 15 upon the 7 pressure within the reservoir-line rising to thedesired degree. It will thus be seen that if I at any time a certaincircuit is completed pump through the controlling apparatus D the willcontinue in operation until it is cut out by means of a certain othercircuit comprising contacts 17 and 15.

Positioned between reservoir 10 and reservoir-line 1 is a connection orbalance which embodies some of the more important features of ourinvention. A cross-section through the same is shown in Fig. 2, in whichthe member 19 is of a tubular form and may, if desired, be constructedfrom a piece of piping. This tubular member or cylinder is internallythreaded at either end so as to be member 21, which may be of anyadapted to make connection with the reser voir 10 and the reservoirline1, respectively. At the central portion of the member or cylinder 19 ispositioned a piston 20, which fits.

snugly within the same and is adapted to have a slight sliding movementlimited as follows: Upon the end of the cylinder adjacent reservoir-line1 there is adjustably inserted a desired form, such that it will notobstruct the passage through the cylinder, but is preferably atriangular spider threaded at the outer ends so as to engage theinternal thread before referred to. This spider has rigidly tapped intothe center thereof a post or stop 22, against which the piston 20 isadapted to rest at one extreme of its path of travel. The movementagainst this stop is preferably cushioned by means of a spiral spring23, substantially as shown. At the end of the cylinder adjacentreservoir 10 there is inserted a similar member or spider 24, ofinsulating material, within which is mounted, by means of bushing 25, ametallic post 26, having a recess in one end in which is preferablysecured, by means of set-screw 27, a carbon block 28. This post isadapted to reciprocate freely within the bushing 25, and such movementmay be limited in any desired manner, as by means of a cotter-pin 29 andshoulders '30. The movement of post 26 toward spider 24 is preferablycushioned by means of a spiral spring 31, as shown. Connected withbushing 25 by means of a screw 32 is a wire 33, hereinafter referred to.This wire is led through the walls of cylinder 19, passing through asleeve or bushing 34 of insulating material. Substantially at the centerof cylinder 19 are two sets of radialopenings 35 and 36, extendingthrough the walls thereof, as is shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5. Surroundingopenings are located is a casing or jacket 37,

which forms an annular chamber or by-pass 38 outside the walls of thecylinder. The set of openings 35 is normally covered by the piston 20,thus closing the passage through the cylinder. Upon the increase ofpressure upon the reservoir side, however, the piston is moved in anobvious manner against the stop 22, thus uncovering the radial openingsor ports 35 and permitting air or other fluid to pass in this manneraround the piston and through ports 36. Upon the pressure on thereservoir-line side becoming the greater, however, the piston is movedin the opposite direction against the carbon block 28, thus maintainingthe passage through the cylinder in a closed condition, andsimultaneously completing a circuit, which will be more fully describedhereinafter.

Upon the dial-face of governor C, before described, is positioned a post39, of insulatmg material, upon which is mounted a flexi ble spring 40,adapted to maintain contact with the hand 12 when the same is in connection with contact member 16 and during the movement thereof towardcontact member 17 for a considerable portion of its path of travel.Before contact 15 has reached contact 17, however, the spring 40 engagesa stop 41 and is thus prevented from further following the hand. Spring40 is connected with the wire 33, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The operation of the above-described embodiment of our invention is asfollows: Assuming that the pressure in the reservoirline falls to such'a point that one of the pumps 11 is started, this pumpas, for ex ample,that upon car A-will tend to raise the 10. When the pressure in thisreservoir has become slightly greater than that in the reservoir-line,the piston 20 in the correspond ing balance or connection 19 is forcedin a direction away from carbon block 28 to a position against the stop22. In this position compressed air or other fluid has upon car B thepiston is exposed to a greater pressure upon the side toward reserlvoir-line 1 than upon thattoward the reser voir of this car, and thepiston is consequently moved against carbon block 28. Substantiallyirrespective of the position of the governor-hand 12 a circuit willnowbe completed through wire 13, hand 1 2, spring 10, wire 33, bushing 25,post 26, carbon block 28, piston 20, and thence to ground in a mannerwhich should be obvious, as the cylinder 19 is connected with the.piping of the car. Upon a current flowing in this circuit through thecontroller of thepump the latter is started in a well-known manner, andthe same is continued in operation until the hand 12 has completed acircuit with contact 17. The operation of'the pump will continueirrespective of the fact that the pressures within the reservoir 10 andreservoir-line 1 maybe substantially equalized and the piston 2() movedaway from carbon block 28. The pump will also be positively stopped whenhand 12 reaches contact 17 without respect to the movement of piston 20,as before this point has been reached the circuit is broken at thegovernor-dial by reason of spring engaging stop 41. It will thus be seenthat even though the piston 20 should stick in cylinder 19 or themechanism become in. other ways inoperative the action of the pump willnot be continued and the pressure raised above the desired point.

It will thus be seen that we have provided apparatus which possessesmarked advantages in the matters of inexpensiveness of construction andreadiness of installation in braking systems of a well-known type. Alsoit may be noted that the several parts are of such construction as torender the apparatus extremely, durable and reliable;

The several parts are substantiallyunaffected by weather conditions,require no precise adjustment, and are easily duplicated and easilyassembled.

Althou h the above description has been given with reference to anair-braking system, it will be obvious that the same may be used inconnection with a system in which the brakes are applied by any otherfluid pressure, and the following claims are intended to comprehend sucha construction.

The terms reservoir-line, reservoir, and pump are used the followingclaims in their ordinary sense, whichis familiar to those skilled in theart.

As many changes could be made in the.

above construction and many apparently widely-different embodiments ofour invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, weintend that all matter contained in the above description and shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be'interpreted as'illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

Having described our'invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecureby Letters Patent, is

1.. In apparatus of the class' described, in combination, a reservoir, apump adapted to force a fluid into saidreservoir, and means comprisingtwo circuits of said circuits being completed to cause the actuation ofsaid pump.

In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reservoir, areservoirline, a pump adapted to force air into said. reservoir, andmeans comprising a connection between said reservoir and saidreservoireline adapted upon either adapted to permitair to pass fromsaid reser- I voir to said reservoir-line and upon air tending to passfrom saidreservoir-line to said reservoir to start said pump.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reservoir, areservoir-line,-a connection between said reservoir and,saidreservoir-line, and means comprising a 1novable member in saidconnection adapted upon the pressure in either said res ervoir or saidreservoir-line becoming lower than that of the other to cause air toflow into that of the lower pressure.

4. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reservoir, areservoir-line, a pump adapted to force air into said reservoir, aconnection between said reservoir and said reservoir-line, meanscomprising two circuits adapted upon either of said circuits beingcompleted to cause the actuation of said pump,'pressure-controlled meansadapted to complete one of said circuits, and means comprising amovablemember within said connection'adapted to permit the passage of air fromsaid reservoir to saidreservoir-line and upon air tending to pass in thereverse direction to complete the other of said circuits. V

5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reservoir, areservoir-line, a pump adapted to force airinto said reservoir, aconnection between said reservoir and said reservoir-line, a movablemember within said connection adapted in one position to obstruct thepassage therethrough, in a second position. to permit the passage of airthrough said connection and ina third position to maintain said passagein obstructed condition and to complete an electric circuit, saidmovable member being exposed upon separate portionsof its surface to thepressures from said reservoir and from said reservoir- 'linerespectively and being adapted to assumesaid second and said third positionsac- IIO- reservoir-line, a movable member Within said connectionadapted in one position to obstruct the passage therethrough, in asecond position to permit the passage of air through said connection andin a third position to maintain said passage in obstructed condition andto complete an electric circuit, said movable member being exposed uponseparate portions of its surface to the pressures from said reservoirand from said reservoirline respectively and being adapted to assumesaid second and said third positions ac cording as the pressure fromsaid reservoir or from said reservoir-line preponderates, meansconnected with said electric circuit adapted upon the same beingcompleted to start said pump, maintain said movable member in said firstposition. v

7. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reservoir, areservoir-line, a pump adapted to force air into said reservoir, aconnection between said reservoir and said reservoir-line, a movablemember within said connection adapted in one position to obstruct thepassage therethrough, in a second position to permit thepassage of airthrough said connection and in a third position to maintain said passagein obstructed condition and to complete anelectric circuit, said movablemember being exposed upon separate portions of its surface to thepressures from said reservoir and from said reservoirline respectivelyand being adapted to assume said second and said third positionsaccording as the pressure. from said reservoir or from saidreservoir-line preponderates, means connected with said electric circuitadapted upon the same being completed to start said pump, means adaptedupon the pressure of said reservoir-line attaining a certain value tostop said pump, and means adapted automatically to break said circuitbefore said last-mentioned pressure is attained.

8. In a braking system, a reservoir-line, a plurality of reservoirs aplurality of pumps, and means positioned between said reservoirs andsaid reservoir-line adapted upon the pressure in said reservoir-linebecoming greater than that in the corresponding reservoir to cause apump to force air into said reservoir and adapted upon the pressure inone of said reservoirs becoming greater than that in said reservoir-lineto permit the free tain point to and a spring tending to passage of airfrom said reservoir to said reservoir-line.

9. In a braking system, a reservoir-line, a reservoir, a pump, meansadapted upon the pressure in said reservoir-line falling to a cercausethe actuation of said pump, and means adapted upon the pressure in saidreservoir-line increasing to cause the actuation of said pumpindependently of said first-mentioned means.

10. In a braking system, a reservoir-line, a reservoir, a pump, meansadapted upon the pressure in said reservoir-line falling to a certainpoint to cause the actuation of said pump, and means interposed betweensaid reservoir and said reservoir-line adapted upon the pressure in saidreservoir-line exceeding that in said reservoir to cause the actuationof said pump independently of said first-mentioned means.

11. In a braking system, a pump, a reservoir, a reservoir-line, meansadapted to cause the operation of said pump upon the fall of pressure insaid reservoir-line to a predetermined point, and means adapted to causethe operation of said pump independently of the condition of saidfirst-mentioned means.

12. In a braking system, a reservoir-line, a reservoir, a pump, meansadapted upon the fall of pressure in said reservoir-line to a certainpredetermined point to complete a circuit and cause the actuation ofsaid pump, and means adapted upon the increase of pressure in saidreservoir-line above that in said reservoir to complete another circuitand cause the actuation of said pump.

13. In a controlling apparatus, two receptacles adapted to contain afluid under pres- V sure, a connection between the same, and a movablemember in said connection the 0pposite sides of which are respectivelyex posed to the pressure within said two receptacles and the path oftravel of which is limited by a stop and an electric contact.

14.- In a controlling apparatus, two receptacles adapted to contain afluid under pressure, a connection between the same, a movable member insaid connection the opposite sides of which are respectively exposed tothe pressure within each of said two receptacles and the path of travelof which is limited by a stop and an electric contact, and a bypass'about said removable member normally closed thereby and adapted to beopened upon the pressure in one of said receptacles exceeding that inthe other.

15. In a controlling apparatus, two receptacles adapted to contain afluid under pressure, a connection between the same, a movable member insaid connection the opposite sides of which are respectively exposed tothe pressure within said two receptacles and the path of travel of whichis limited by a stop and an electric contact, and a by-pass about saidmovable member normally closed thereby, said movable member beingadapted upon movement against said step to open said' by-pass and uponmovement against said electric contact to complete an electric circuit.p 16. In a controllingtapparatus, two receptacles adapted to contain :afluid under ,presstop and an electric contact, and a by-pass about saidmovable member normally closed thereby, said movable member beingadapted upon the pressure in one of saidrecepta cles exceeding that ofthe other. to be forced against said step and open' said by-pass andupon the pressure in thelatter receptacle becoming'the greater to beforced in the opposite direction against 5 said electric contact andcomplete an electric circuit.

. 17. In a controlling apparatus, two receptacles adapted to contain afluid under pres- I sure, a connection between the same, a mov ablemember in said connection the opposite sides of which'are respectivelyexposed to the pressure within said two receptacles and the path'oftravel of which is limited by a stopand an electric contact, and aby-pass about said'movable member normally closed thereby, said movablemember beingadapted upon the pressure in one of said receptaclesexceeding that of the other to be forced against said stop andopen saidby-pass and upon the pressure'in said last-mentioned receptacle becomingthegreater to be forced in the opposite direction against said electriccontact and complete an electric circuit and maintain said bypass in aclosed condition.

said reservoir and said reservoir-line, a mcv- 18. In a brakingsysten areservoir-line, a reservoir, a pump, a connection between said reservoirand saidreservoir-line, and a movable member in said connectiontheopposite sides of which are respectively exposed to the pressurewithin said reservoir and said reservoir-line and the pathof travel ofwhich is limited by a stop and an electric contact, .said .movablemember being adapted upon engagement with said electric contact tocomplete an electric circuit and cause the actuation of said pump.

g 19. In a braking system, a reservoir, a res ervoir-line, a pump, aconnection between able memberin said connection the opposite sidesofwhich are respectively exposed to the pressure Within said reservoirand said reservoir-line and the path of travel of which is limited inone direction by an electric contact, and a by-pass about said movablemember normally closed thereby, said movable member being adapted uponthe pressure in said reservoir-l ne exceeding that in said reservoir tobe forced against said electric contact and complete an electric circuitand cause the actuation of said pump.

' 20. Ina braking system, a pump, a reser- I voir, a reservoir-line,means adapted upon the, pressure in said reservo r-line falling to acertain predetermined point to complete an electric circuit and causethe actuation of said pump, a connection between said reservoir and saidreservoir-line, and a movable member within said connection the path oftravel of which is limited in one direction by an electric contact, saidmovable'memberreservoir, a pump, means adapted upon the pressure in saidreservoir-line falling to a certain predetermined point to cause saidpump to force air into said reservoir, a connection between saidreservoir-line and said reservoir, and a movable member within saidconnection the'opposite sides of which are respectively exposed to thepressure within said reservoir and said reservoir-line and the path oftravel of which is limited by a stop and an electric contact, saidmovable member being adapted upon pressure in said reservoirlineexceeding that in saidreservoir to beforced against said electriccontact and complete an electric'circuit and cause said pump to forceair into said reservoir.

22. In a braking system, a reservoir-line, a reservoir, a pump, meansadapted upon the fall of. pressure in said reservoir-line to a certainpoint to complete an electric circuit and cause said pump to force airinto said reservoir, a connection between said reservoir and saidreservoir-line, a movable member within said connection the position ofwhich is controlled by the relative pressures in said reservoir and saidreservoir-line, an electric contact against which said movable member isforced upon the pressure in said reservoirline exceeding that in saidreservoir, and a by-pass about said movable member nor 'mally closedthereby and adapted to be opened upon the pressure in said reservoirexceeding that in said reservoir-line, said movable member uponengagement with said electric contact completing an electric circuit andcausing the actuation of said pump.

23. In a braking system, a plurality of reservoirs, a reservoir-line, apump associated with each reservoir, a connection between each reservoirand said reservoir-line, and a movable member within each connection theposition of which is controlled by the relative pressures in saidreservoir-line and in the reservoir with which it is associated, saidparts I being so arranged and constructed that upon the operation of onepump the pressure in' said reservoir-line will be raised, the movablemembers in said other connections will be ac tuated and the pumpsassociated therewith same is stopped by said firstmentioned started.means and adapted upon the pressure in said I 5 24. In a braking system,a reservoir, a resreservoir exceeding that in sald'reservoirelineervoir-line, a pump, means adapted upon the 1 to permit the free passageof air from said pressure in said reservoir-line falling to a cer- 1reservoir to said reservoir-line. v tain predetermined point to causethe opera- In testimony whereof We afiix' our signa tion of said pumpand upon the pressure tures in the presence of tWo Witnesses. thereinrising to a certain other point to cause 1 ROBERT C TAYLOR the stoppinof said pump and means posiv tioned betw een said reservoir and saidreser- EDWARD TAYLOR" voir-line adapted upon the pressure in saidreservoir-hue exceedmg that in said reservoir to cause the operation ofsaid pump until the Witnesses Y MARTIN D. BRADLEY, FRANK H; BURROUGHS.

